In 2012, we saw the Android smartphone world reach heights that I don’t imagine many predicted. On a spec front, 2012 was the year of quad-core processors, 2GB of RAM, HD displays, longer battery lives, and incredibly thin bodies. It seems like just yesterday that we were asking DL readers if they had a dual-core or single-core phone, yet here we are, with dual-core phones already becoming a thing of the past.

On a manufacturer front, 2012 was the year that Samsung proved that it really was the only big fish in a bowl full of minnows. We saw Motorola kick off its life as a Google-owned company, HTC struggle to make money even while releasing amazing phones, and LG take its turn as the face of the Nexus phone program.

In this post, I thought we’d talk a bit about all of that by listing out my top 10 phones of the year. 

1.  Samsung Galaxy S3 (review)

No surprise here, but the Galaxy S3 tops my list of phones for 2012. It was hyped as much as the next iPhone, yet it still delivered. It launched with an impressive suite of sharing capabilities that no other phone had seen, it used a big beautiful display with a body that was slim enough to feel great in hand, and with 2GB of RAM, it almost never stuttered or slowed down. But most importantly, Samsung showed the world that it has power in the mobile world by releasing one version of the phone across all carriers. As expected, though, people were quick to downplay it at launch, but over its first couple of months in stores, Samsung sold millions upon millions of units, fully cementing themselves as number 1 in the world.

2.  LG Nexus 4 (review)

The Nexus 4, Google’s latest flagship device, has seen its share of ups and downs over its short life. It was hyped up for a couple of months in a variety of leaks, was never officially unveiled thanks to a hurricane, hated on because of its lack of LTE, and criticized mightily for its glass back. But you know what, to me, it’s still the 2nd best phone you can buy. It comes in at an unbelievably reasonable price of $299 (or $349), is the ultimate stock Android device since it’s the newest Nexus, carries future-proof specs, and isn’t tied to a carrier. It may be impossible to purchase, but that may also be a sign that Google has finally figured out a winning device formula.

3.  Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (review)

When Samsung originally launched the Galaxy Note, the world was introduced to a confusing product plus one of the worst mashup words ever created in “phablet.” Was the phone a tablet or a phone or the “best of both worlds”? Surprisingly enough, that question doesn’t matter as it was a massive success. So Samsung did what any smart company would do with a successful product – launch a follow-up. The Galaxy Note 2, like the Galaxy S3, has already shipped by the millions, and may have even been the most anticipated device to launch on Verizon in some time (even over the Galaxy S3 and DROID brand). It’s too big for my liking, but you can’t argue with the impressive set of features that Samsung has built in. Also like the Galaxy S3, it blew past the competition with innovative features like multi-window, advanced S Pen technology, and camera sharing capabilities.

4.  HTC DROID DNA (review)

Verizon passed up on the HTC One X in early 2012, something we weren’t sure we could forgive them for. Thankfully, they appear to have fully redeemed themselves by launching the world’s first 1080p smartphone, the DROID DNA. The device itself is beautiful to look at, is much smaller in stature than the Note 2, is surprisingly light and thin, has the best display in the business, actually lasts throughout a full day even with a semi-small battery, and carries top-of-the-line specs that few other phones contain. At $199 on contract, it’s also somewhat of a steal. Easily the best phone HTC has created since the next phone on our list, the One X.

5.  HTC ONE X (review)

When HTC announced the One Series, which included the One X, the world was blown away. This was the new HTC, or at least one that was trying to make a comeback after a terrible end to 2011. The phone sported the best display in the business at the time, a best-in-class processor, the prettiest phone design we had ever seen, felt great in hand, was able to withstand a day’s beating on a single charge, and really set the standard for smartphones in 2012.

6.  Motorola DROID RAZR M (review)

As we approached Motorola’s big Fall event, rumors started popping up over a mysterious device with the world’s first “edge-to-edge” display. While others were willing to bet the world on it being some secret device, we knew long beforehand that it was simply the DROID RAZR M, a mid-range device headed to Verizon. I don’t want that to sound like I’m discounting the phone, as it was easily my favorite from Motorola in 2012. Since the display was so close to being edge-to-edge, it has a small footprint, yet still packs mostly top-tier specs (other than the display). It has amazing battery life and feels tiny in hand compared to the rest of the smartphones being introduced these days. But that’s not a bad thing, as the display was still big enough to allow you to consume content without sacrificing a thing. We certainly hope that “edge-to-edge” is the future.

7.  Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD (review)

This may surprise some readers, seeing the RAZR MAXX HD below the RAZR M, but this phone offered little in terms of “new.” It still rocks a massive battery that can get you through days before needing a charge, plus it comes equipped with an HD display, but it was released late enough that it was almost out of date by the time it went on sale. I’m a big fan of Motorola’s decision to slim down the skin they put on top of Android, and will never complain about their focus on battery life, but the RAZR HD needed to blow it out of the park, something it didn’t quite do.

8.  LG Optimus G (review)

The LG Optimus G was the inspiration for the Nexus 4. It sports the same processor, RAM, display, and Crystal Reflection back design, so how could it not be on this list? While glass backsides will never appeal to me, this phone was a beast the minute it came out. In fact, with its quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, it was the highest spec’d phone on the planet for a at least a month. LG also took some time to create a software suite, much like Samsung had done, to try and help the phone stand out. They definitely succeeded. It’s too bad it was limited to AT&T and Sprint, as this phone could have potentially sold well on other carriers.

9.  Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (review)

Boasting a massive 3300mAh battery while maintaining a slim profile, the original RAZR MAXX set the standard for battery life in 2012. Well, it set it and then watched as no one could match it until Motorola released the HD version of it 10 months later. We aren’t sure what kind of voodoo Motorola has working in their battery department, but we love it. They are the only phone company on the planet that has been able to make ultra-slim phones with batteries you used to only see sold separately as “extended.” The RAZR MAXX itself wasn’t all that impressive outside of its battery, but in my book, this battery was good enough to make the list.

10.  HTC One S (review)

Another original One Series phone, the HTC One S, finishes off my list of top 10 phones. With its ultra-thin body, fancy micro arc oxidation coating, and mostly top-tier set of specs, I was a big fan of this phone. Sure, it wasn’t as good as the One X, but it wasn’t supposed to be. HTC released it as an affordable mid-range phone, with a sleek profile, fun color scheme, and one of the best cameras in the business.

So there you have it, my top 10 phones of the year. I’m assuming there will be some disagreement, so let me hear it in the comments.

Top 10 Android Phones of 2012 is a post from: Droid Life

HTC has updated their device FAQ for anyone looking to find information on when and if their device will receive Jelly Bean. Long story short, HTC has made it clear that in general, devices with 512MB of RAM or less will more than likely not receive Jelly Bean. Unfortunately, that probably goes for you too Thunderbolt owners, even with your 768MB of RAM. Other devices from HTC that are equipped with just 512MB of RAM are the One V and Desire C.

We work hard to ensure each of our products has the optimal user experience and therefore some products will remain at their current version of Android. In general, devices with 512MB RAM or less will not be upgraded to Android 4.1. As we identify other devices that will not be upgraded, we’ll provide updated information.

As for which devices will definitely get JB, HTC says they are prioritizing the update for the devices that were launched in 2012, then working their way back. The company has quite the portfolio to work through, and as you most likely already guessed, it could take quite some time before we see updates go live for the Rezound, EVO 3D, and other once-flagship devices. 

Now, to be fair, Thunderbolt owners should have already known that their devices wouldn’t officially see Jelly Bean. But as this calendar year ticks down towards the new year, the device still has yet to receive Ice Cream Sandwich which was supposed to hit the device by the end of August.

Via: Android and Me | HTC

HTC Will Prioritize Devices Launched in 2012 to Receive Android 4.1 Update, Says Sorry to Devices With 512MB of RAM is a post from: Droid Life

Along with its announcement of the One X+, HTC also announced that Jelly Bean updates for the One X and One S will arrive this month. Yep, we’re talking October. We sort of assume that they mean for the international variants, with a slow rollout eventually through the U.S., as U.S. carriers tend to be the slowest in approving software updates. 

The press release for the One X+ only mentioned the following:

The Android Jelly Bean with HTC Sense™ 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.

The AT&T press release for the One X+ would only mention this:

In the future, the original HTC One X and HTC One VX will be upgraded to HTC Sense 4+ with Android Jelly Bean andwill include the improved camera capabilities and new Tap and Go function found in the HTC One X+.

So that leads us to believe that it could be a bit longer for those who own the A&T version of the One X.

Jelly Bean Updates for HTC One X and One S Arriving in October is a post from: Droid Life

HTC made a splash this year with the release of the One series lineup of phones. Combining great hardware with a toned-down Sense UI experience really sold well, and with the release of Jelly Bean, HTC promises that the One series will be seeing the update. In a short statement yesterday, the company said that they would be working to bring Android 4.1 to the One X, One XL and One S.

However, the Incredible 4G LTE that was released on Verizon just after the One series landed was not mentioned in the statement. We know that the Incredible was a bit of a different phone than the One series, but even still, we hope that buyers will get some tasty Jelly Bean action some time down the road.

Via: Engadget

HTC Confirms Plans to Upgrade One S, One X and One XL to Jelly Bean, Doesn’t Mention Incredible 4G LTE is a post from: Droid Life

Apple has filed yet another complaint with the International Trade Committee on June 4, claiming that HTC is infringing on the same patents that held devices up at customs last month. We all know that those devices were eventually cleared of the investigation, but Apple is going after the One X, One S and One V along with other devices as well. The ITC has already ruled in Apple’s favor one time, let’s hope they don’t again.

Via: Engadget

Apple Comes at HTC With Another ITC Patent Dispute, One Series Targeted Again is a post from: Droid Life

I know that you probably just finished up reading our HTC One X review from yesterday, but it’s time now to shift gears onto its little brother, the HTC One S. Announced at the same time as the One X during MWC in February, the One S might come off on paper as being less of a phone, however, once you use it you will realize that it is a little beast of its own. This device is headed to T-Mobile, but variations of it will arrive on other carriers – like the Incredible 4G on Verizon. So let’s dive into it and share some thoughts. 

The Good:

• Hardware:  The One S carries an impressive set of specs for what we are considering a mid-range phone. With its 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 1GB of RAM, this phone is no slouch. It also has an 8MP f/2.0 camera in the back (same as the One X), VGA front camera, 4.3″ Super AMOLED qHD display (more on this later), 1650mAh battery, and 16GB of on-board storage. Again, for a mid-range phone, having that processor is enough to feel a tingle in your pants.
• Design:  The One Series of phones has been beautifully designed by HTC. This phone in particular is made using a Micro Arc Oxidation process that includes blasting and heating of aircraft grade aluminum. It should make for a more durable and reliable phone that won’t need a case to protect it. The phone I have is “Gradient Blue” and is a nice departure from the standard black phone craze. With accents in all the right places (like the camera ring), subtle logos (other than the nasty T-Mo logo on the front), and an unbelievably thin body (7.8mm), HTC has continued the design brilliance of the One X with the One S.
• Display:  After coming from the One X and knowing that the One S only carried a 4.3″ Super AMOLED qHD display, I was initially disappointed. But from what I can tell, this is essentially the same display that the DROID RAZR has, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, HD is king these days, but in order to keep the price and size down on this phone, HTC went qHD on us. The colors are vibrant, as you would expect on an AMOLED, and actually, my better half preferred it to the One X’s when looking at them side by side. In the picture below, you can get somewhat of an understanding as to what people mean when they say that AMOLEDs look more cartoonish and vibrant, while LCDs tone things down to look more natural. It’s a preference thing, but having not noticed ghosting or other PenTile issues, this screen seems to be adequate. We also put together some macro shots below of the screen so that you can see the technology behind a qHD AMOLED.

• Feel:  This phone is crazy light. It weighs in at just 119.5 grams and is noticeable the first time you pick it up. Is it too light? I did find myself fumbling with it at times, but that’s probably because I’m used to bigger and heavier phones. The light weight was welcomed once I got used to it. Also, with a 4.3″ display, this phone fits in your hand perfectly. I made the comment yesterday that the One X could be too big for some – that is not the case at all with the One S. If there is a sweet spot for phone size, HTC may have hit it here.
• Camera:  The camera on the One S is identical to that of the One X and that’s a good thing. It’s ultra fast, takes better-than-average pictures for a smartphone, and records in full 1080p. I wouldn’t call this the best smartphone camera on the planet, but it certainly beats 95% of the phones available today. It rates right up there with the Galaxy S2, iPhone 4S, and other HTC phones of the last year.

• HTC ImageSense:  Since the camera on the One S is exactly the same as the One X, including its ImageSense software, I’m just going to copy and paste what I wrote from that review – “The best part of Sense 4.0 is the inclusion of HTC’s new image software called ImageSense. This right here, is awesome. With the camera open, ImageSense allows you to snap photos in split seconds with no shutter lag, shoot video and snap full pictures at the same time without a hiccup, filter your best shots, toggle to HDR or panorama with ease, and take dozens of rapid fire shots by simply holding down the camera button. We cover this in the Sense overview video below, but wanted to express to you again how impressed we are with HTC’s camera work. Bravo.”
• Battery:  Battery life has so far been phenomenal even with only 1650mAh of juice. While I have only had 2.5 days with the phone, which is not enough time to fully test a battery, I have yet to really worry about it dying. In those couple of days, I plugged it in once to get a full charge and then one more time yesterday afternoon. Since then, no added juice, no WiFi, some gaming, a night’s sleep and we’re sitting at 38%. Not bad at all. You can probably thank the Snapdragon S4 at 28nm for the reduction in power consumption.

• HTC Sense 4.0 (parts of it):  Again, since this runs an identical version of Sense to the One X (4.0), I’m just going to pull from that review – “Oh HTC Sense 4.0, you and I have one heck of a relationship. In the 20-minute video overview that I posted below (which you should definitely watch), you will probably come away thinking that I despise Sense with a great passion. That’s not 100% true. There are some things about it that drive me nuts, but overall, this latest version is the best yet. It’s slightly less intrusive, yet still adds some UI flair that many will enjoy. I also love the way that Sense manages contacts, makes the camera super efficient, adds options to the lock screen, and continues to polish up widgets. I will always prefer stock Android over an OEM skin, but Sense 4.0 has come a long way in the right direction.”
• Ice Cream Sandwich:  All I need to say here, is “Nice job, HTC.” At least someone understands that you can’t release phones in 2012 with anything but Android 4.0. If you buy the One S, you will have the most current version of Android available.
• Beats Audio:  You could probably argue for days with an audio elitist that Beats Audio on a phone is a giant gimmick. What I know, is that if you have headphones plugged in and disable the Beats Audio on this phone, that it then sounds like garbage. Who knows what the real benefit is and how it has been tweaked to optimize sound on this phone, but to me, it seems to add some flavor – and flavor is a good thing.

The Not-so-Good:

• [Update] Pricing:  At $199, this phone to me is a bit overpriced. With a qHD display, only 16GB of storage, VGA front camera, no NFC chip, and a smallish battery, this should have been no more than $149 on contract. When a phone is priced at $199, we tend to think of it as a flagship, but when you can get the One X (a true flagship) from AT&T for that same price, I’m officially confused at what HTC and T-Mobile think the One S is.
• HTC Sense 4.0 (parts of it):  Between the One S and the One X, there are few (if any) differences in the versions of Sense that they run. I’m a fan of pieces of it which I mentioned above, but at the end of the day, I’m an Android fanboy and like my stuff stock. I could do without the 3D transitions and animations. Just make it simple and fluid. HTC Sense 4.0, while toned down from previous versions, is still a bit much for my tastes.

• No LTE:  Since the phone is going to T-Mobile, it doesn’t have 4G LTE. Sure, they will tell you that they have the largest 4G network in the land, but the educated phone owner knows that this is stretching the truth. T-Mobile does not have an LTE network, so they instead rely on what amounts to an overclocked HSPA+ network that they are calling 4G. It’s not slow by any means, but LTE is the way of the future and this phone will never be a part of that.
• Front T-Mobile Logo:  Look, I get it that T-Mobile wants everyone to know that this is their phone, but could you have toned down the logo on the front a tad? It’s silver, massive and stands out way too much. The back HTC and Beats logos are so minimal, that this T-Mobile spot on the front of the phone is beyond over-the-top.
• No Expandable Storage:  HTC and many smartphone manufacturers have decided that phones do not need to have expandable storage. In the case of the One S, this is a bad move since they only packed 16GB inside. With phones like the One X or Galaxy Nexus that have 32GB out of the box, this is less of an issue. But if OEMs are going to drop below the 32GB threshold, then they need to give people an option to expand. It was probably a pricing move, however, we have to frown upon it. And once you look at how much storage Sense 4.0 takes up, leaving you with around 12GB of the 16GB to play with, you will too.

• Non-removable Battery:  Non-removable batteries are the root of all evil for those that travel a lot or simply do not have the opportunity to plug in their phone on the fly. With the One S only having a 1650mAh battery inside that cannot be swapped out should you run it down, we are a little worried that power users won’t find it sufficient. I’ve poked around with the phone for a couple of days and have not run into issues, but I hardly consider myself a power user. The top rear part of the phone is all that is removable for SIM card management.

• Bloatware:  We weren’t able to perform our bloatware count ritual with the One X since that is the unlocked and non-carrier version, but the One S is all up in some pink T-Mo. What is the final number? 15 bloatware apps. Some of them can be removed, but not all. We know that bloatware will never go away, but we like to point out our continued disappointment in carriers’ choice to make these system/non-removable.
• No NFC: This could have been another cost cutting move, but HTC decided to leave out an NFC chip in the One S. The One X has it, but if you choose this phone, you will have to spend the next 2 years without the ability to pay for things on the go with your smartphone. All signs point to some major NFC and mobile payment happenings kicking off by the end of the year, so this is a bit disappointing.
• Top Lock Switch and Headphone Jack:  It wouldn’t be fare if I knocked the One X for this and gave the One S a pass, so we are bringing it up again. To me, it makes sense to have lock switches on the right side of the phone where your thumb can hit it easily. It also makes sense to have headphone jacks on the bottoms of phones so that you can easily pocket them and also avoid cord issues while holding.

Unboxing:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sense 4.0 Overview:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Screen Comparisons:

Gallery:

The Verdict:

When you are given a short 2 or 3 days to review a phone, it’s tough to feel like you really got to know it inside and out. However, since the One S is basically just a smaller version of the One X, with a smaller screen and build, this was pretty easy to do.

The HTC One S is a great little phone. It’s not a flagship, but I don’t think that HTC intended for it to be (or maybe they did?). While it may not have the full-blown HD screen, tons of storage, NFC chip, or LTE connectivity, it has one of the better (if no the best) mobile processors on the planet inside. Assuming that this phone comes in at a price well below $199 , it may be one of the finer deals around (Update:  It didn’t. T-Mobile is pricing it at $199. Yikes.). You get a vibrant screen, tons of power, Ice Cream Sandwich, a phone that feels amazing in hand, impressive battery life, and one of the better cameras any smartphone has ever seen. The One S is another winner from HTC’s One Series.

For Verizon folks, this is for the most part what the Incredible 4G will be – same screen and processor, but with LTE.

*Note – We know, this is not a Verizon phone. But knowing the competition and your options is a good thing. Going forward, expect to see reviews from time to time of other major players on other networks here at DL. Who knows, some day you may find one that you can’t live without and will switch carriers. It could happen, right?

HTC One S Review [T-Mobile] is a post from: Droid Life

Feel like ditching Verizon when HTC’s line of 2012 One series phones comes to the U.S.? Maybe? Whether you do or do not, check out the “first look” videos of them all after the break to get a better feel for their beauty and power. No one does preview videos like HTC. If there is one company that understands elegance and style, it’s them.  

HTC One X

Click here to view the embedded video.

HTC One S

Click here to view the embedded video.

HTC One V

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: First Look at the HTC One X, One S, and One V is a post from: Droid Life

We knew they were all coming, but HTC officially stole the show today at Mobile World Congress 2012 with the unveiling of their HTC One series. Even with specs leaking and pictures popping up across the globe, we should all still be impressed with what HTC has produced for the first half of this year. The One X is their flagship phone and the most impressive on paper, but the One S isn’t far behind it as a next-gen phone. The One V is their lowest level of the three, yet still manages to include Beats audio and an extremely slim body while maintaing the unique look of the once iconic HTC Legend. Overall, this is one hell of a lineup of phones. They announced more than just phones though, but we’ll start there and continue on throughout the afternoon.

We have pictures, specs and more after the break.  

HTC One X

Starting with the big dog simply makes sense, so let’s dive into the HTC One X first. What was rumored has now been officially confirmed on the spec front. The device will rock a 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor (in most of the world), 1GB of RAM, Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4.0, a 4.7″ Super LCD 2 HD screen with Gorilla Glass, NFC chip, 32GB of storage, 1800mAh non-removable battery, Beats audio, 8MP camera with F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens, and is ridiculously thin at 8.9mm. It will begin to ship globally in April. AT&T has this one locked up in the U.S. though.

HTC One S

The One X may be the phone that everyone is talking about, but the One S should not be overlooked. Rockin’ Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 dual-core chipset, this phone is as powerful as any other phone we have seen come to life thus far. It also has a 4.3″ qHD display with Gorilla Glass, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, Android 4.0 with Sense 4.0, Beats audio, the same amazing 8MP camera as the One X, 1650mAh battery, and an unbelievably thin 7.8mm body. HTC went with a ultra-matte black Ceramic Metal surface that is harder than aluminum and will keep better over time. It’s a crazy good phone. The One S will ship with the rest of the One series in April. This puppy is headed to T-Mobile here in the U.S.

HTC One V

The One V is HTC’s budget phone for early 2012. It has a single-core processor and 512MB of RAM, yet still runs Android 4.0 and a similarly amazing camera to the One S and One X. As you can see, it looks almost identical to the HTC Legend and HTC knows that. It will also ship in April.

Stay with us though, there is more on the way. HTC also announced some very exciting new camera technology along with more Beats integration. Like we said earlier, it’s not all phones out of MWC today.

HTC ONE SERIES UNVEILED 

HTC One™ Highlighted by an Amazing Camera and Authentic Sound Experience 

Unprecedented momentum for HTC One series – available beginning in April with broad global availability through more than 140 mobile operators and distributors

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Mobile World Congress – February 26, 2012 – HTC, a global designer of smartphones, today unveiled its new HTC One series of smartphones that represent its most premium mobile experience with a new level of iconic design and amazing camera and authentic sound experience.

“The best moments in life are captured with a photo or remembered by a song, so it was key for the HTC One series to improve these emotional experiences with an amazing camera and authentic sound experience,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “We are very focused on creating a camera and audio experience customers will love and use often and we believe the HTC One series delivers this in a way never seen on a phone before.”

With HTC’s most premium experience, the HTC One series integrates Android 4.0 (ICS) with HTC Sense™ 4, the new version of HTC’s branded user experience that is introducing HTC ImageSense™, a new suite of camera and imaging features that set HTC One apart from other phones.  HTC Sense 4 also includes broad enhancements to audio quality and simplifies how people listen to music on their phone.

Amazing Camera

With ImageSense HTC One rivals traditional digital cameras with improvements to every part of the camera, including the lens, the sensor, the software, and even integrating a new custom HTC ImageChip. These enhancements combine to deliver our fastest image capture, best image quality under adverse conditions and easiest interface that enables quick access to capturing stills and videos with side-by-side photo and video capture buttons.

• Superfast Capture - HTC One dramatically reduces the time it takes to capture those key moments. In just 0.7 seconds you’re able to take a shot, and with a new superfast 0.2-seconds autofocus, continue to take nearly unlimited continuous shots simply by holding the shutter button.
• Good photos in adverse conditions - HTC One delivers dramatic enhancements in image capture quality even in adverse conditions such as low light, no light or with bright backlighting. The f/2.0 lens on the HTC One X and HTC One S offers best-in-class performance, capturing 40 percent more light than the f/2.4 lenses available on other high-end phones. HTC One also includes HDR, a market-leading technology, for taking great photos even when there are varying levels of brightness.
• Video Pic (Concurrent Video/Still Capture) – With Video Pic you capture a photo and shoot video at the same time.  Now, while you’re shooting HD video, all you have to do is tap the shutter button and it snaps a high-resolution still photo while the video continues to shoot.  You are also able to capture a photo frame from a previously recorded video.
• Dropbox integrated with HTC Sense - HTC One gives you an easy way to save and share your photos and videos. HTC has integrated Dropbox into HTC Sense 4 enabling HTC One customers to get 25 gigabytes of free Dropbox space for two years. That’s enough to keep more than 10,000 high-quality photos. Dropbox is also integrated throughout HTC Sense 4, so it’s easy to edit, save and share your documents and other kinds of files.
• Sharing your photos and more - HTC One gives you a new way to share your photos and videos. When you plug in HTC’s wireless Media Link HD* accessory into your TV’s HDMI port, you can easily share your photos, videos, or anything else on your phone with your friends, family or colleagues regardless of the television’s brand as long as it has HDMI.

Authentic Sound

With HTC One, Beats By Dr. Dre Audio™ integration is enabled for the first time across the entire experience for richer, more authentic sound whether you’re listening to your favorite music, watching a YouTube™ video or playing a game.  HTC One also makes it easy to get and listen to your music on your phone with the built-in HTC Sync Manager software that automatically installs to your computer when connected. Once connected, it is easy to transfer songs, artists and playlists from your music library.

Of course, people today no longer just listen to the songs stored on their phones; they use streaming services and tune into Internet radio. So HTC One lets you customize the new Music Hub with your favorite services and music applications, like the latest Soundhound technology, giving you one place to go for all of your music.

HTC One lets you take all of your music anywhere, including the car. With HTC One, you get an easy way to bring your mobile music to your car’s sound system with the HTC Car Stereo Clip*. It also lets you connect to your music through more than 50 thousand online radio stations worldwide or play music from any service or app on your phone through your car speakers.  All this makes HTC One the one place to enjoy all your music, wherever you are, with the power of Beats By Dr. Dre Audio and HTC Car.

HTC One X

The HTC One X features a beautifully crafted polycarbonate unibody that has the ruggedness of metal but is super lightweight. With seamless construction, the unibody combines a unique high gloss ‘piano’ finish and a matte back.  HTC One is blazing fast with the new NVIDIA® Tegra 3 Mobile Processor for clear graphics, faster applications and longer battery life. It includes a 1.5GHz Super 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core with an integrated fifth Battery Saver Core and a high-performance 12-Core NVIDIA® GPU.  The HTC One also has an amazing 4.7-inch, 720p HD screen crafted from contoured Corning™ Gorilla Glass. HTC One X will also be available in select 4G LTE markets with a LTE-enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon S4™ processor with up to 1.5GHz dual-core CPU’s.

HTC One S

The HTC One S is for people who want a high-end smartphone in a more compact size. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with up to 1.5GHz dual-core CPU’s. It also includes a 4.3-inch screen crafted from contoured Corning™ Gorilla Glass. HTC One S brings HTC’s innovative metal unibody styling to a new thin 7.9-mm design, making it HTC’s thinnest phone yet.  The HTC One S sports two new finishes that break new ground in mobile phone innovation.  The first is an ultra-matte black Ceramic Metal surface that is the result of a microarc oxidation (MAO) process originally developed for use in satellites. It transforms the surface of the aluminum unibody into a ceramic, super-dense crystalline structure that is four times harder than anodized aluminum, enabling the HTC One S to look great over time. The second finish for the One S takes anodizing to a new level with a new patented process that creates a light-to-dark gradient fade that looks gorgeous and sophisticated.

HTC One V

Utilizing the classic, award-winning design of the HTC Legend, the HTC One V brings top-end design to a smartphone with broad appeal and a premium experience that delivers an amazing camera and authentic sound.  It features a simple, iconic aluminum unibody design that exudes craftsmanship and quality.

Global Availability

With unprecedented excitement, the HTC One series will begin shipping in April with broad global availability available beginning in April through more than 140 mobile operators and distributors globally.  For more information and to pre-register for HTC One visit www.htc.com.

HTC One Series

Europe, Middle East and Africa - A1 Austria, BH Telecom Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bite Lithuania, Bouygues Telecom France, Cellcom Israel, Cosmote Greece, Cosmote Romania & Global Bulgaria, Cyta Cyprus, E-Plus Germany, Elisa Estonia, Elisa Finland, EMT Estonia,  Euroset Russia, Everything Everywhere UK, H3G Austria, H3G Denmark, H3G Ireland, H3G Sweden, H3G UK, KPN Netherlands, Turkcell Turkey, LMT Latvia, M-Tel Bulgaria, Meteor Ireland, Mirs Israel, Mobilezone Switzerland, Avea Turkey, MTN Cyprus, Netcom Norway, O2 Germany, O2 Ireland, O2 UK, Omnitel Lithuania, Orange Austria, Orange France, Orange Israel, Orange Poland, Orange Romania, Orange Slovakia, Orange Switzerland, Pelephone Israel, Play Poland, MTS Russia, SFR France, SiMobil Slovenia, Sunrise Switzerland, Svyaznoy Russia, Swisscom Switzerland, T-Mobile Austria, T-Mobile Croatia, T-Mobile Czech Republic, T-Mobile Germany, T-Mobile Hungary, T-Mobile Macedonia, T-Mobile Netherlands, T-Mobile Slovakia, TDC Denmark, Tele2 Estonia, Tele2 Latvia, Tele2 Lithuania, Telefonica Czech Republic, Telekom Slovenia, Telenor Denmark, Telenor Hungary, Telenor Montenegro, Telenor Norway, Telenor Serbia, Telenor Sweden, Telia Denmark, Telia Sweden, TIM Italy, Tusmobil Slovenia, Vipnet Croatia, VIP Mobile Serbia, VIP Operator Macedonia, Virgin UK, Vodafone Czech Republic, Vodafone Germany, Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Hungary, Vodafone Ireland, Vodafone Italy, Vodafone Netherlands, Vodafone Romania, Vodafone Turkey, Vodafone UK, Wind Greece  North America: AT&T, Bell Mobility, Best Buy, C-Spire, Cellcom, Fido, Metro PCS, Bluegrass, OpenMobile, RadioShack, Rogers Communications, T-Mobile USA, Target, TELUS, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Mobile Canada Latin America: Cellcom,  Claro Argentina (América Móvil), Claro Perú (América Móvil), Claro Puerto Rico (América Móvil), Entel Chile, Iusacell México, Movistar Chile (Telefónica), nTelos, Telcel México (América Móvil), Telecom Personal Argentina, Telefónica Brazil,  Asia-Pacific: AIS, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile (TD-SCDMA), ChungHwa Telecom, 3HK, CSL, DiGi, DTAC, Fareastone, Globe Telecom, Indosat, M1, Mobifone, Maxis, Optus, SingTel, Smart, Smartone, StarHub, Taiwan Mobile, Telkomsel, Telstra, Viettel, Vinaphone, Vivo, Vodafone Australia, Vodafone New Zealand, XL Axiata, TRUE

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense™, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

HTC Announces the One X, One S, and One V – Sets the Bar for 2012 Android Devices is a post from: Droid Life

Most of the devices expected to make a splash at next week’s Mobile World Congress have now been outed. Yesterday we saw LG’s entire lineup of phones receive hands-on time and today we have the first shots of the HTC One X and One S in the wild. The One S is expected to be a mid-range device, so we’ll get right into the picture we have up top which is of the One X. As you know from the constant coverage of it over the last couple of weeks, the One X is HTC’s new flagship device. Rockin’ a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 4.7″ Super LCD HD screen, NFC, 8MP rear camera, and Sense 4.0 over Ice Cream Sandwich, it’s something to be taken seriously.

As far as styling goes, it looks like all of HTC’s devices from the last couple of years only it appears to be incredibly thin. In fact, if this was sitting next to a Sensation, you might not be able to tell the difference other than the ICS-ready 3-navigation keys that HTC has chosen instead of the previously standard 4. I’m not calling it ugly, just saying that it looks like every other HTC device from the front.

The HTC One S is expected to be a little more budget-friendly and is pictured after the break. Rumored specs have it with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (possibly the Snapdragon S4), 4.3″ qHD screen, and Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Thoughts on HTC’s new devices? They rarely ever send anything to Verizon first, so you can almost expect that most of us will never even think about purchasing one. However, the specs, thickness of the devices, and continued use of Super LCD screens has to get you at least a little excited. Should a variation of one of these come to Big Red, would you be all over it? Bootloader unlocking tool, remember?

Via:  ITProPortal [2]

HTC One X and One S Pose for the Camera – Same Old HTC Design, But Ultra-Thin is a post from: Droid Life

Oh HTC, so clever on your little Facebook page. What does “5″ mean? Well, Mobile World Congress starts in exactly 5 days. The world is fully expecting HTC to announce at least 3 (maybe even 4) devices at the conference including the One X, One S and One V. The One X as you know used to fall under the codename Endeavor and is their first Tegra 3 quad-core device. The One V (formerly the Ville) could very well end up as the world’s first Snapdragon S4 phone, something that even as a dual-core chipset, will hold its own for a long time.

After a disastrous 2011, HTC is looking to make a huge splash at MWC and set the the stage for 2012. They have some work to do if they are going to rise back up in the Android ranks, but with the rumors and buzz flying about as we approach this weekend, they certainly have a chance.

The quote “This Sunday you’ll discover something fast.” was included with the photo.

Via:  Facebook

HTC Teases MWC Announcements on Facebook is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Ville and Endeavor have been talked about ad nauseam. The Endeavor will be their first quad-core Tegra 3 device and what you should consider a “flagship,” while the Ville is one of their first incredibly thin looking dual-core handsets. They will more than likely be officially unveiled at MWC in hopes of recovering from a disastrous 2011.

As we approach their release, two names have appeared that could accompany both handsets. The HTC Endeavor may end up as the HTC One-X with the Ville looking like its little brother as the HTC One-S. This would naming scheme matches up in a way the way the Sensation line was handled last year.

Not flashy, but should you buy one, you could at least walk around saying that you “purchased the One!” A little Matrix-y?

Via:  SlashGear, PocketNow

HTC’s Two New Devices Dubbed the One-X and One-S? is a post from: Droid Life